John henry brinkman



(No Model.)

J. H. BRINKMAN.

KNIFE SHARPENBR.

N0. 572,190. Patented Dec. 1, 18:96.-

ML za u 'iw cams Finns w. PHoro-umo" WASHINGTON. o n.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HENRY BRINKMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

KNlFE-SHARPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,190, dated December 1, 1896.

Application filed M 11, 1896. Serial No. 591,044. (No model-7 To all whom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN HENRY BRINK- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife-Sharpeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide means for sharpening knives, scissors, and similar articles rapidly and accurately, and by accurately I mean as relates to knives, to produce a double beveled cutting edge in which the bevel on each side is equal.

The object also is to make the channels or grooves resulting from the removal of the metal from the blade by the sharpening-tool run in a longitudinal instead of a transverse direction, as is the case with the use of grindstones, for it is a well-known fact thatblades sharpened with longitudinal furrows have a better cutting edge than where the furrows run transversely.

The object also is to produce a simple, cheap and durable article suitable as well for family use as for use in butcher-shops and places where sharp knives and tools are in constant use.

I accomplish the objects of this invention by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved sharpening device, showing aknife as being sharpened thereby. Fig. 2 is a view of said device, looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of one of the files used in the sharpener, and Fig. 4: is a detail of the upper part of the sharpener with a V-shaped file inserted in place of the flat one for the purpose of sharpening scissors. Fig. 5 is'a view in detail of a modification in which the files are held by means of set-screws.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A is a clamp of usual construction, having the screw B whereby the clamp will be removably secured to a table-top or other convenient article of support. C is abifurcated upwardly-projected extension integral with the clamp A. The two upper ends of the eX- tension 0 are flared outwardly to facilitate the insertion of the knife or other article into place between the forks of the sharpener. These forks O and C will be thin enough to afiord some elasticity and will have anormal tendency to spread apart, which tendency will be overcome by the bolt D, which passes through the parts 0' and O and is provided with the wing-nut d, by means of which the parts are drawn together.

E is a plate of hardened steel with file-teeth cut on one side of it in opposite diagonal directions in the manner as shown in Fig. 3. These files taper lengthwise and have the beveled edges 6. In each of the extensions 0 and C the tapering ways 0 are cut with beveled edges, the whole contour and size of the said ways being such as to receive and hold the files, which will be inserted therein and made tight by driving them into the tapering ways in the manner as clearly shown in the drawings. The lower edges of the files on the two opposite sections of the fork will be close together, but will not quite touch, in order that the metal shavings or filings, which will be taken off when the knife is drawn through between them, may fall through below out of the way. The cutting of the edge will be done as the knife is pulled toward the operator, and the diagonal slope of the fileteeth will be in the direction of this pull, so as to cause the blade to be carried into position between the files. The upper oppositelysloped teeth on the file will come into use when the files are turned the reverse edge up, and simply add double life to the tile by bringing a new set of teeth into use when the first set is dulled. The exact adjustment of the files so as to make the required space between the lower edges of the files will be secured through the adjustment of the nut (Z on the bolt D.

For sharpening scissors ,the files will both be taken out and one of them replaced with its smooth face reversed, so as to contact with the scissors-blade without cutting it. Then a V-shaped file II will be inserted in the opposite side or fork in the manner as shown in Fig. 4. The sides of the V-shaped file will be provided with file-teeth against which the blade of the scissors G will be pressed when drawn through the space between the forks, so as to take off a portion of the metal and thereby sharpen the blade. The angle of the V-shaped file will be so made as to give the desired bevel to the cutting edge of the scissors-blade when the latter is drawn throughthe space between the forks.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the files instead of being tapering to form a wedge-like construction, which can be fastened into place by being driven into the ways or slots in the forks, will be secured by means of the set-screws I which press the files over tightly against the inwardly-sloping upper and lower edges of the said ways. By adopting this modified construction the files can be produced at a much less cost than where they are made tapering.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and wish tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a knife-sharpener, a bifurcated standard C the sections of which are drawn together by means of a bolt and nut, said sections having transverse opposite depressions or ways with inwardly-beveled edges, said ways being located on the inner faces of the sections, and files removably secured in said ways, said parts being combined and arranged in the manner substantially as described and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the clamp A and screw B, of the standards 0 and C having oppositely-curved upper ends and a screwbolt to draw the standards together, said standards having inside opposite ways cwith beveled edges said ways being wider at one end than at the other and the files E shaped as described and having teeth out substantially as described and specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HENRY BRINKMAN.

\Vitnesses:

J OSEPH A. MINTURN, F. V. TOERNER. 

